"Legend of Korra" Creators Preview Season Finale
By
Agent White,
Posted on: 2012-06-19 18:43 in Comic and Hero-Villain Culture
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Korra is definitely going through those annoying teenager years. Plus she's been under the thumb of the White Lotus since she was very young, growing up away from family and friends of her age. On top of that she had skills in 3 of the 4 elements also from a young age and that her "job" is to help the world. She has no experience with the real world or actual society since she was trained in a special compound.|
Originally Posted by Arnabas
So, is this really worth watching? My wife, son and I all loved the first series, watching it multiple times and lending out the DVDs to people. We were looking forward to Korra, but when the first two episodes came out, I fell asleep watching the first one. It started ok, but I really didn't like
the weird 1920- or 1930-ish setting at all. When I woke up, I asked my wife what she thought. She said the story seemed dull, the supporting characters were not interesting and Korra herself was borderline annoying. I didn't bother trying to watch again and my wife has no desire to watch either. My son has expressed a desire to watch it, so I may try again, but I just don't have any enthusiasm about it. |
As the the world turning "modern", well the original series introduced the notion of benders abilities being used to "power" equipment and the Fire Nation did embrace steam power. Under Zuko's peaceful reign and Aang keeping the peace, massive innovation could be possible once a practical compact engine was developed.
The universe hasn't diverged too much from the original series if you take into account the 70 year time skip. Consider the time skip from the US Civil War to the mid 1920s or Japan's modernization during the same period if you have problems going from an agrarian to industrialized society in such a short period of time. Also we don't know how much of the technology has spread beyond this new city of the future.
As for the show I thought it was enjoyable. I think it's target is a bit older than the original, more older teen romance (17-19) than younger (13-15 in the original).
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The show is pretty clearly targeting the people who were preteens when the first series came out and are now in the 15-18 range now.
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I enjoyed it, but it definitely has a very different feel. I'd agree it's aiming for an older audience, the themes are more mature and it still has that silly humor the original had, it's central theme of social issues rather than the overarching epic story of one gives it a totally different feel.
The steampunk/industrial revolution/1930's era feel contributes heavily and we have a stark departure from the 'medieval asian fantasy'. The elements are still there but I think they were pushing for a more 'grown up' Avatar world.
Does it work? I think that's pretty subjective. I liked it, but I wouldn't as it was as good as the original. it's good! Don't get me wrong, the writing is tight, the characters are fun, a lot of the designs are wonderful. But it's good in a very different way than the original was. It's almost comparing apples and oranges, except for the heavily shared common elements and setting.
I'm looking forward to another season, but if you're looking to the show as 'More Avatar' you're probably going in expecting the wrong thing.
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I agree. They pulled out some twist that really lacked any build up (Tenzin and the kids were captured, we just didn't tell you! Ahahaha!) and went with one twist that was so painfully obvious that I didn't think they would do it. I was also hoping for a better explanation of why they could bloodbend without the moon other than they can because they're so good they can. I was also disappointed with Korra's airbending break through; it seemed like it should have been tied to some deep character development.
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Originally Posted by Tenzhi
I thought it kind of rushed to a lame back-to-status-quo conclusion.
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I love the show. It's the bee's knees. I like the characters, the setting, the pacing, though was surprised to see the finish of this storyline, so quickly. It makes me wonder what is in store for S:2. The fight choreography is genius and looks great on a big screen.
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I'ma just leave this right here...|
Originally Posted by Tater Todd
Good! I wasn't the only one! Mako is a big ol Jerk and Korra is super selfish.
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Yeah, that was one of the things that really irked me. Way to devalue that whole heroic sacrifice, guys.|
Originally Posted by ketch
They pulled out some twist that really lacked any build up (Tenzin and the kids were captured, we just didn't tell you! Ahahaha!)
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But I guess it wasn't much of a sacrifice anyway, since everything almost immediately went back to normal because... uh... a wizard did it. Yeah.
It was an excellent season right up to that bunk ending. I had to wonder if they ended it that way in case it wasn't going to get a second season.
Goodbye may seem forever
Farewell is like the end
But in my heart's the memory
And there you'll always be
-- The Fox and the Hound
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You guys do know that it was only signed for only one season right? I think it was exceptionally well done for one season. The old Avatar had time for more build up, story and character development.|
Originally Posted by ketch
I agree. They pulled out some twist that really lacked any build up (Tenzin and the kids were captured, we just didn't tell you! Ahahaha!) and went with one twist that was so painfully obvious that I didn't think they would do it. I was also hoping for a better explanation of why they could bloodbend without the moon other than they can because they're so good they can. I was also disappointed with Korra's airbending break through; it seemed like it should have been tied to some deep character development.
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Inazuma! I love the Penny Arcade comic! It's so true! I love Korra but that girl needs to grow up a little...and I guess apparently so does mako lol.
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I would've preferred ending on a sad note with a loose end or two, to a happy ending with the loose ends tied up that felt very forced.
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Originally Posted by Tater Todd
you guys do know that it was only signed for only one season right? I think it was exceptionally well done for one season.
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Goodbye may seem forever
Farewell is like the end
But in my heart's the memory
And there you'll always be
-- The Fox and the Hound
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It would of ended that way if they had known that it was going to be signed for two seasons...but it wasn't signed for two until they were pretty much done with the first season. She still can't call herself an airbender in the slightest.
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Originally Posted by Tenzhi
I would've preferred ending on a sad note with a loose end or two, to a happy ending with the loose ends tied up that felt very forced.
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Is it just me or did Amon seem to go stupid at the end there? This guy genius bender of both water and blood tricked over half a citys worth of people into joining him and actually took said city over only to so obviously water bend right in front of everyone at the end all because we was thrown in a little lake?
He could have water bend some water when he was in the lake to steam on his face make a little scar so the paint wont matter and just swim to the surface and he would still have all his followers so what gives. Amon seemed like a much better villain then that. I still enjoyed the season overall and watching his brother blow them both to smithereens was satisfying.
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I was aware of that though I have no understanding of Nick's logic for only signing one season initially. Regardless, it doesn't excuse the problems the series had. There just wasn't enough time for some of the world building stuff they chose to explore. A lot of the pro-bending stuff could have been cut to make way for plot development; I say that even though I found it pretty entertaining, but it felt like time ill-spent.|
Originally Posted by Tater Todd
You guys do know that it was only signed for only one season right? I think it was exceptionally well done for one season. The old Avatar had time for more build up, story and character development.
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It's somewhat akin to giving someone a sheet of paper and asking them to draw a portrait. They hand it back after drawing an eye, a nose, and a bit of the mouth that fills the page. When asked why they didn't draw the whole thing, their reason is that the paper was too small. Korra's story was just too grand in scale for what could have been a 13 episode run. They either should have scaled it back or risked only telling the first act in hopes that Nick would re-up for the rest.
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Risking it would not be a wise choice. I've seen plenty of great cartoons and anime risk it to only have themselves canceled within the first season leaving you always wondering. Yes, The avatar series is very popular but one must always be cautious.|
Originally Posted by ketch
I was aware of that though I have no understanding of Nick's logic for only signing one season initially. Regardless, it doesn't excuse the problems the series had. There just wasn't enough time for some of the world building stuff they chose to explore. A lot of the pro-bending stuff could have been cut to make way for plot development; I say that even though I found it pretty entertaining, but it felt like time ill-spent.
It's somewhat akin to giving someone a sheet of paper and asking them to draw a portrait. They hand it back after drawing an eye, a nose, and a bit of the mouth that fills the page. When asked why they didn't draw the whole thing, their reason is that the paper was too small. Korra's story was just too grand in scale for what could have been a 13 episode run. They either should have scaled it back or risked only telling the first act in hopes that Nick would re-up for the rest. |
I definitely agree that they could of cut back the pro-bending a bit though, giving them an extra 2 or 3 weeks of room.
I think that it did very well and I think that some fans are being a little to harsh to the series...yes it had it faults and yes it has some plot holes and loose ends but it was still very much enjoyable. It's going to take a lot for a show that only runs for one series to equal up to the first avatar series...and Avatar in itself is on a higher level than most cartoons and anime, even at it's worst it still surpasses most of its competition.
I would rate the LoK series as it stands now a 7-8...compared to the previous series. I think That the original Avatar should get a 9.9 rating wise.
I hope that they learn from their mistakes though and Iroh things out *snort**wheeze*. I felt that the first avatar ending wise was rushed as well...and FOR GODS sake what is wrong with Nick?! Do they not realize the value of the Gem that they have in their hands? They should of given the Avatar creators all the time in the world! I doubt that Nick has a show in their line up that even comes close to the popularity of the Avatar series.
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He was knocked unconscious in said lake. Kind of why he wasn't moving and his eyes were closed. He would've drowned in there, but I'm pretty sure his body went into a fight or flight mode and he used anything he had to save himself. That just happened to be his waterbending. You gotta understand when someone's about to die they don't sit there and plan out what they can or can't do. Doesn't work that way in real life, shouldn't work that way in fiction.|
Originally Posted by Lucky666
Is it just me or did Amon seem to go stupid at the end there? This guy genius bender of both water and blood tricked over half a citys worth of people into joining him and actually took said city over only to so obviously water bend right in front of everyone at the end all because we was thrown in a little lake?
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Originally Posted by ketch
I was also hoping for a better explanation of why they could bloodbend without the moon other than they can because they're so good they can.
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And just where did Yakone learn the technique? Oh yeah... he knew it because he knew it. After all, the only two individuals with knowledge of the technique were an old woman who was incarcerated and the water bending master that outlawed it. Even if he learned if from Hama in prison (the only reasonable scenario I can conceive, outside of him discovering it which is the same deus ex machina), it was still a stretch to master it without movement and without the moon... and, of course, without explanation. It would have only taken a few lines of exposition to sort out an answer. They stretched the canon of what could be done which is fine provided they reason it out; however, they didn't.|
Originally Posted by Xzero45
More like they dedicated their entire childhood to overcoming a weakness and training specifically in bloodbending. Bloodbending was invented by weak prisoner who only had practice on rats. The only other person that could do it did it twice and hated it, outlawing it. I'm pretty sure if non-blind earthbenders could learn metal bending, regular waterbenders could train to not need to rely on the moon to bloodbend.
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Overall, it was minor nitpick, but the nits added up over the course of the series. The ridiculous romantic conflict, the incompetent earth bender police (who seemingly forgot their earth bending basics), and OMG SO PURE Titanium. There were, to me, far more weak plot points in this series and too many pulls. Maybe that's because A:TLA was laying down how things worked so we had to take it at face value while Korra was left to build on already established canon. Overall, Korra was just less enjoyable than its predecessor.
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How did Hama learn it? Oh yeah, she randomly discovered it, which is something any other waterbender can do. How would it be deus ex machina to also discover a technique when he has just as much ability to do so as her? And how is it a stretch for Yakone to not only be a naturally gifted water bender, but also work hard to specialize in bloodbending the very same way Toph specialized in metalbending and grew stronger in it? He discovered a technique and practiced it. Not that hard to figure out.|
Originally Posted by ketch
And just where did Yakone learn the technique? Oh yeah... he knew it because he knew it. After all, the only two individuals with knowledge of the technique were an old woman who was incarcerated and the water bending master that outlawed it. Even if he learned if from Hama in prison (the only reasonable scenario I can conceive, outside of him discovering it which is the same deus ex machina), it was still a stretch to master it without movement and without the moon... and, of course, without explanation. It would have only taken a few lines of exposition to sort out an answer. They stretched the canon of what could be done which is fine provided they reason it out; however, they didn't.
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Did you nitpick this hard when Azula bent blue fire without explanation, or every time Combustion Man created explosions with his mind?
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Except Hama explained it to Katara, and by extension the viewer, how she realized water was a part of the body when denied access to it and the idea was foreshadowed by the swamp benders. Her discovery was laid out in a manner that made sense in the story. Yakone, on the other hand, can do it because... practice? We don't know. We aren't given anything that suggests where he picked up the ability, how he honed the skill, or even that he was naturally gifted water bender. They built up a little mystery but provided possibly the least satisfying answer. More importantly, they tied that mystery to the antagonist. It's a far larger problem than things that were largely played for Rule of Cool.
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Originally Posted by Xzero45
How did Hama learn it? Oh yeah, she randomly discovered it, which is something any other waterbender can do. How would it be deus ex machina to also discover a technique when he has just as much ability to do so as her? And how is it a stretch for Yakone to not only be a naturally gifted water bender, but also work hard to specialize in bloodbending the very same way Toph specialized in metalbending and grew stronger in it? He discovered a technique and practiced it. Not that hard to figure out. Did you nitpick this hard when Azula bent blue fire without explanation, or every time Combustion Man created explosions with his mind?
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What's wrong with practice? He stumbles upon a skill, finds out how powerful it is, practices with it, abuses it. Just like any other bender, or really anyone ever with any kind of skill ever. They had to explain with Hama because they introduced an entirely new skill. Bloodbending isn't new anymore, though, so why explain it again?|
Originally Posted by ketch
Except Hama explained it to Katara, and by extension the viewer, how she realized water was a part of the body when denied access to it and the idea was foreshadowed by the swamp benders. Her discovery was laid out in a manner that made sense in the story. Yakone, on the other hand, can do it because... practice? We don't know. We aren't given anything that suggests where he picked up the ability, how he honed the skill, or even that he was naturally gifted water bender. They built up a little mystery but provided possibly the least satisfying answer. More importantly, they tied that mystery to the antagonist. It's a far larger problem than things that were largely played for Rule of Cool.
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You're looking way to into this and expecting far too much.
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It was established to be a very rare, virtually unknown technique. So yes, stumbling into it is a problem for the story. And while an old technique to the viewers, Yakone uses it in a means that contradicts established canon (that water benders can only blood bend during a full moon), which requires some explanation as to why he can do so. At best, the whole thing is lampshaded by Sokka's speech at the trial. I really do think they could have done better though.|
Originally Posted by Xzero45
What's wrong with practice? He stumbles upon a skill, finds out how powerful it is, practices with it, abuses it. Just like any other bender, or really anyone ever with any kind of skill ever. They had to explain with Hama because they introduced an entirely new skill. Bloodbending isn't new anymore, though, so why explain it again?
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| You're looking way to into this and expecting far too much. |
But seriously... world building is an important part of creating fiction. These guys did a pretty nice job with the first series. Sadly, I think they weakened that by contradicting or ignoring some of the ideas that they had presented in A:TLA.
At any rate, I don't intend to belabor the point about the blood bending, but you keep responding to it. There are plenty of other things that I felt made this a weaker show if you want to discuss those. (Pabu certainly was no Momo.)
I'm hoping that the mystery behind the new blood bending ability is further explored in the up coming season.
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That they didn't explain it, doesn't mean he just randomly stumbled across it. It just means they didn't explain it.|
Originally Posted by ketch
It was established to be a very rare, virtually unknown technique. So yes, stumbling into it is a problem for the story. And while an old technique to the viewers, Yakone uses it in a means that contradicts established canon (that water benders can only blood bend during a full moon), which requires some explanation as to why he can do so. At best, the whole thing is lampshaded by Sokka's speech at the trial. I really do think they could have done better though.
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For all we know the guy was a descendant or relative of Hama. We just don't know.
And really, ultimately it doesn't matter. It's background detail that has no direct impact on the story.
Could they have fleshed it out? Sure. But they had a fraction of the episodes in a season as the last series, they had to pick and choose what to show.
-np
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So you're saying exactly what I said:|
Originally Posted by NinjaPirate
That they didn't explain it, doesn't mean he just randomly stumbled across it. It just means they didn't explain it.
For all we know the guy was a descendant or relative of Hama. We just don't know. |
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Originally Posted by ketch
Yakone, on the other hand, can do it because... practice? We don't know. We aren't given anything that suggests where he picked up the ability, how he honed the skill, or even that he was naturally gifted water bender.
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And really, ultimately it doesn't matter. It's background detail that has no direct impact on the story. Could they have fleshed it out? Sure. But they had a fraction of the episodes in a season as the last series, they had to pick and choose what to show. -np |
Again, this was a minor point, but one of many that indicated a greater problem. Far greater offenders were its poor pacing and unsatisfying conflict resolution. I've seen people toss out the defense that they had far fewer episodes to work with, but that is no defense at all. It's part of the problem. Remember those writing assessments we all had to do in school? Fourty-five minutes and one sheet of paper. When you know you don't have the time and narrative space to write a full length epic, why would you try? Even in that case, you have to be lean and mean with the details; instead, it felt like they really squandered the first 3-4 episodes.
My take is once something is known to be possible, it's a lot easier to "discover" it the 2nd time. This is true in a lot of professions so I can accept that premise.
Yakone may have been a very skilled water bender to begin with when he first heard about bloodbending and decides to research this knowing if he did attain that ability he could eventually take over the gangs.
The moon limitation may simply allowed "ordinary" skilled waterbenders to do it as well but a gifted waterbender has enough skill to do it regardless of the moon. Katara learned the skill quickly enough and if it didn't repulse her, she could have develop the skill to do it anytime.
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I kind of agree, it was a bit sloppy. Korra acknowledges that it shouldn't be possible, Tarlok dismisses her and implies he's going to explain it but never does and the flashback has no explanation.
I mean I can buy "He heard about the forbidden technique and tried it himself", but that needed to at least be -said- somewhere.
TLA: Water, Earth, Fire
LoK: Air, Spirit
We'll just have to wait and see.